Placentia Police have arrested a man suspected of committing several residential burglaries, including some “hot prowls” when residents were inside their homes.
Martin Lopez, 22, of Fullerton was taken into custody after allegedly biting the finger of a police officer during a pursuit at 4:21 a.m. Saturday in the 1000 block of Lawanda Place, Placentia police Sgt. Adam Gloe said.
Officers had responded to the area at 2:27 a.m. regarding a suspicious man prowling in a backyard, Gloe said. He had run away but left his bicycle.
An officer in an unmarked car waited to see if the man would return for his bicycle, which he did at 4:21 a.m., Gloe said.
That led to a foot pursuit and when officers caught up with the man he fought with them and resisted arrest, biting a police sergeant’s finger, authorities said.
Detectives served a search warrant at Lopez’s Fullerton home and “located several items of evidence believed to be stolen property taken in burglaries in the area,” Gloe said. “The man is believed to be involved in several residential burglaries in Placentia and the investigation is ongoing.”
Lopez was arrested for suspicion of prowling, resisting arrest with force, battery on a police officer, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, Gloe said.
— From Staff and Wire Reports